P2P Video Platform Vuze Raises $20 Million Third Round

Joseph Weisenthal

Dec. 19, 2007 - 4:33 AM PST
Dec. 19, 2007 - 4:33 AM PST

P2P video platform Vuze, formerly known as Azureus, has raised a big $20 million third round led by New Enterprise Associates, with participation from previous backers Redpoint Ventures, Greycroft Partners, BV Capital, and Jarl Mohn. A year ago, the Palo Alto-based the company raised $12 million, which, in addition to an unspecified first round, bring its total haul to over $32 million. Originally, the company positioned itself as an open-source BitTorrent client, but is now emphasizing legitimate, long-form video, still using P2P distribution. Since that funding, the company has set out to establish premium content relationships. It says 100 such relationships have been formed in the last year. Among its content partners are cable networks Starz and Showtime. Competition includes the well-funded Joost, both of which require users to download a dedicated player. Release.

Disclaimers: Greycroft is an investor in our parent company ContentNext. Also, Vuze was a sponsor of our EconSM conference.